Tourism in Greece is too tough on the turtles

By Danielle Demetriou

12:01AM BST 08 Oct 2005

The Mediterranean's largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles is facing extinction due to tourism, environmentalists said this week.

The Greek island of Zakynthos is home to the National Marine Park, where between 800 and 1,100 turtles nest every summer. However, officials have been accused of failing to implement sufficient regulations to prevent tourists from disturbing the turtles that hatch at the height of the tourism season in August.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature monitored the park this summer and found that thousands of tourists placed their sunbeds and umbrellas beyond authorised limits on the beaches.

Illegal bars, tavernas and parking areas also lined the shores, disturbing the turtle settlements, according to the report.

Environmentalists said this week that the turtles, one of only two marine turtle species that reproduce in the Mediterranean, would face extinction unless the authorities took firm steps to control tourism in the region.

It is not the first time the plight of the turtles has been highlighted. Three years ago the Greek government was found guilty under European Union law of failing to protect the animals. But, despite the ruling, tourism has continued to damage the population, according to this week's WWF report.

Demetres Karavelles, the chief executive officer of WWF-Greece, said: "The Environment Ministry has not effectively responded to repeated calls for urgent action."